A resolution similar to that passed last fall by the USM Faculty Senate and the AAUP for better funding was adopted by a statewide coalition. This group is sponsoring a Rally to Support Education this coming Wednesday, January 27^th, 4 p.m. at the State Capitol. Hope you can make it and please spread the word.

Mississippi is not alone in facing draconian cuts. All but two states are going to have deficits this year (only Montana and North Dakota). Reagans economic advisor Martin Feldstein recently warned these forms of stimulus will be missing in 2010, creating a serious cloud over the near-term economic outlook (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601068&sid=a9fFuLfRkApc). Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moodys Economy.com, recently warned that these state budgetary actions will be a serious drag on the economy at just the wrong time (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2988).

Unless more money comes from the federal government many economists predict the recovery may waver (http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15020012). Hopefully by working together we can appeal to our leaders to make the right economic decision and properly fund education.

Mississippi Statewide Consortium for the Improvement of Education (M.S.C.I.E.)

RALLY TO SUPPORT EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH, 4 P.M., STATE CAPITOL

The M.S.C.I.E. includes representatives of the Mississippi Association of Educators, the state Faculty Senates, American Association of University Professors, staff and students.

Our state leadership needs to put pressure on our federal representatives to allocate more funds to the states. Mississippis 2.8 billion stimulus money for three years helps, but it pales to the over 20 billion dollars in bonuses on top of regular pay just one government bailout recipient Goldman Sachs is likely to pay this year (http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/15/news/companies/goldman_taxpayer_gains.fortune/index.htm). That is about 1 billion a year for a state with a population of 3 million, versus 20 billion for one relatively small company (about 25,000 worldwide employees for 2008). Our Governor, a former lobbyist himself, can do better for our state, but he needs our help as well as that of other state and federal representatives to get the state the money it needs in this dire time. Hopefully we can get more stimulus money.

Congress is currently considering 75 $ billion dollars more in funding for states this month! Please write your senators and representatives to make sure education gets full funding. This should be enough money to restore education funding to 2009 levels and plenty left over for other state needs.

(Calculated from Info from Governor Barbours Proposed Budget (11-16-09)

TOTAL MS PUBLIC ED SPENDING IN 2009 990,263,878$

TOTAL MS PUBLIC ED SPENDING IN 2010 946,671,429

TOTAL MS PUBLIC ED SPENDING IN 2011 850,191,625

For 2011 we need about 140 million just to get back to 2009 spending.

If we are an average state then (50 times 140 million)=7 billion would give all states plenty of money to cover the 2011 shortfall.)

Hopefully we can help create a virtuous cycle in Mississippi rather than a vicious cycle of pitting one group against another. Even though we are better equipped to make the argument for funding education we need to be supportive of other deserving groups seeking help as well.

Budget Resolution from Mississippi Statewide Consortium for the Improvement of Education (M.S.C.I.E.)

In light of the historical, economic and cultural challenges facing the state of MS, the continued crippling of educational institutions through budget cuts moves the clock back in the progress and advancement of our people.  The states ability to attract jobs, offer cultural activities and keep the unemployment rate low depends on our ability to offer high quality educational opportunities from kindergarten through the post-graduate level.  Those with a good education not only earn more, pay more taxes, and have lower unemployment, but they are also less likely to need services of the state such as welfare, Medicaid, prisons, unemployment insurance and workers compensation.  Cutting education will not only cause a loss of jobs in all sectors of the economy, but devastate all citizens ability to compete in the nation and the world.

In light of these plain facts the Mississippi Statewide Consortium for the Improvement of Education (M.S.C.I.E.), which includes representatives of the Mississippi Association of Educators, the state Faculty Senates, and the American Association of University Professors call for the following:

1)     That Governor Barbour and the legislature make no cuts to education;

2)     That educators in K-12, community colleges, and universities support this resolution; and,

3)     That the leadership of the groups meet to organize against the destruction of our schools, colleges and universities.

As Thomas Jefferson recognized more than 200 years ago, dollars spent on education have a multiplier impact on local communities, the state, and the nation: If the children . . . are untaught," Jefferson wrote, "their ignorance and vices will in future life cost us much dearer in their consequences, than it would have done, in their correction, by a good education."  Cutting education will immediately cause a loss of jobs across the state and deny citizens access to education. We therefore believe strongly that rainy day funds or other revenue, including taxes earmarked for education, should be used to maintain this strategic investment in our present and future.

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.